Tottenham’s new stadium: Around 15,000 seats set to be ripped out of new ground after building blunder
Without the special formula, they will fall apart within months and fade to light blue after being exposed to the elements
FAULTY seats fitted at the £1billion new Spurs stadium are being ripped out in the latest setback for the Prem club.
Up to 15,000 padded seats already installed were not fitted with a pigment to make them durable in bad weather.
Bungling workers were meant to add the pigment to navy blue dye used to coat the seats in the North London club’s colours.
Without the special formula, they will fall apart within months and fade to light blue after being exposed to the elements.
Humiliated staff at plastic injection moulding firm Certwood only noticed the mistake days ago.
And Spurs’ management “hit the roof” after being told the seats already in the stadium – up to 25 per cent of the eventual 62,062 capacity - must be torn out.
The club has already had to switch next season’s Premier League fixtures, starting with a series of away games and a home fixture at Wembley Stadium.
The first match at the new, as yet unnamed arena, will be against Liverpool in mid-September.
Spurs chiefs were adamant last night that the latest set-back will not disrupt test events ahead of opening.
But one insider at the stadium said: “There has been blood on the walls over this. It is very embarrassing.
“It isn’t Tottenham’s fault, but it looks very bad.
“The contractor was very sheepish about their blunder and will be working around the clock to ensure there are no further time delays.
"The fault was with the back of the seat and the padding. They were not fit for purpose."
There are three test events scheduled at the stadium - the first in early August - to ensure it meets stringent health and safety standards.
A source said the contract to make and fit the seats in the new stadium was worth more than £10million – and replacing up to 15,000 seats would cost Certwood a “fortune”.
A Tottenham Hotspur spokesman told The Sun: “All seats affected are being swiftly replaced and it will not have any impact on the scheduling of our operational test events that are due to commence at the start of August or our first home fixture in our new stadium against Liverpool.”
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Luton-based Certwood said the problem related to the production of a component part used in the seat.
A spokeswoman said: “In trying to deliver the very best product for THFC a phenomenon called ‘heat stress’ occurred in the process.
“Stress marking became evident within days of leaving our plant as a localised lighter patch on the affected part. They were subsequently recalled having already left our plant.
“The problem was identified internally. THFC have been provided with replacements and there are no delays in the delivery, build or opening of the new stadium resulting from this.
“Manufacturing is a demanding business and never without issues that can occur from time to time, we pride ourselves in supporting all of our customers and promptly addressing any issues that may arise.
“The faulty parts will be re-cycled into other, non-cosmetic moulded components that we produce.”